Head of the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has urged the United States Senate to approve the ambassadorial nominee to Turkey within the shortest terms.

Lincoln McCurdy said in an article in the congressional newspaper, The Hill, that the Senate should confirm Francis Joseph Ricciardone as US ambassador in Ankara.

"Turkey is a significant political and economic actor that has played a crucial role in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe in the last decade. The country is a valuable ally to the US and NATO in maintaining peace and stability," McCurdy said.

"Yet the US Embassy in Ankara has been without a leader since July. Four months later, there is still no ambassador to Turkey, and if recent Senate machinations continue, we may have no leadership in Ankara until 2011. When Congress returns for the lame duck session in November, the Senate must resolve this impasse," he said.

"The presence of a US Ambassador in a critical allied country like Turkey, which is undergoing significant internal changes this year, is indispensable to maintaining a close dialogue and a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. Leaving this position unfilled is sending the wrong message to Turkey," The Anatolia News Agency quoted McCurdy as saying.